A Queensland man diagnosed with a brain tumour ‘the size of an orange’ is waiting to see if doctors will perform life-saving surgery to remove the mass.
Laith Hassoneh, 33, from Brisbane, was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 2018, but despite doctors saying his tumour was the size of an orange, they were unwilling to operate.
Scans and tests revealed the malignant astrocytoma was 7cm in diameter and was placing enormous pressure on the man’s brain.
Laith Hassoneh, 33 (pictured), was diagnosed with brain cancer in May 2018, but despite doctors saying his tumour was the size of an orange, they were unwilling to operate
Scans and tests revealed that the Mr Hassoneh (pictured) had a malignant astrocytoma with a diameter of about 7cm, which was placing enormous pressure on the man’s brain
Surgeons performed a delicate procedure to relive the high pressure from within Mr Hassoneh’s skull, but they said it was too risky to remove the tumour due to its size.
Mr Hassoneh’s family, desperate to find a surgeon, searched across the country to find a doctor who was willing to attempt the risky procedure.
Only one surgeon in Australia agreed to perform the surgery but the costs are expected to exceed $150,000, so Mr Hassoneh’s brother set up a GoFundMe page.
‘They are unwilling to perform the surgery due to the high-risk nature of it,’ Mr Hassoneh’s brother, Zaid, wrote in the GoFundMe page.
‘This fee is prohibitive, but Laith requires this critical life-saving surgery to remove the tumour as soon as possible.’
Mr Hassoneh’s brother said that even after surgery is complete, other essential treatments not currently available in Australia will cost more than $100,000.
Surgeons performed a delicate procedure to relive the high pressure from within Mr Hassoneh’s skull (pictured), but they said it was too risky to remove the tumour due to its size
‘This will cover his medical bills, economy travel and brief accommodation, he said.
‘Cancer drugs and treatments often have decades-long trial periods before becoming available for widespread use and Laith simply cannot wait.’
Mr Hassoneh, who is an exercise and sports scientist, is described by his family as a ‘passionate’ health aficionado who encourages others to perform at their best.
‘He has never tried drugs, never smoked a cigarette, and has been eating a purely organic and clean diet for the past decade,’ his brother said.
Mr Hassoneh’s family have so far raised about $14,000 of a $250,000 goal and have pledged to donate any unused funds to The Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.
‘Any help and support we can get will be eternally appreciated beyond any words we could ever say and will be life-changing for Laith,’ his brother said.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the Hassoneh family for comment.
Mr Hassoneh (pictured), who is an exercise and sports scientist, is described by his family as a ‘passionate’ health aficionado who encourages others to perform at their best